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ATARI BYTES

Remember those great Atari 2600 games? I have fond memories of playing classics like Pitfall or Yar's Revenge or River Raid. In this podcast, I take another look at the games, but as a writer, not a gamer. When I think of these games now, I see writing prompts; taking inspiration from the game plots or maybe even the titles to create original short stories. But this isn't simply fan fiction. The stories, more often than not, spin-off into some weird places in all kinds of genres. Sometimes funny, occasionally serious, always unique.
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Now displaying: November, 2018

Remember those great Atari 2600 games? Sure, they were fun to play, but didn't you ever wonder why they sent a plumber to take out Donkey Kong? What Yar was seeking revenge against? What the Defender was defending or why those robots went Berserk? Me too! ATARI BYTES is a game review podcast like no other. We review not just the game play, but the STORY within these classic games. We take a BYTE out of the story (get it?) and see if that story BYTES us back (now do you get it?).

Nov 25, 2018

What goes better with reheated Thanksgiving leftovers than the disturbing jelled, canned cranberry podcast equivalent ATARI BYTES?

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say this week's episode IS THE SINGLE GREATEST PODCASTING EXPERIENCE YOU WILL EVER HAVE... during the time you listen to this particular podcast. 

In episode 148, we're playing VENTURE, Coleco's 1982 port of the classic arcade game that I never actually played. Treasure hunters seek their booties in deep, dark dungeons. Meanwhile monsters shake their booties in pursuit of those same hunters. 

You'll be relieved to know that I don't think the word "booty" appears anywhere in this week's story.

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring" and "Reformat".

Atari Bytes - the website

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. Calling all Snoopy lovers!

Thanks to Mike Mann for our Mad Mike Hughes Theme!

Consider checking out my novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, a sort of Santa Claus story...for adults! You can order wherever you like to order books. Here's one of those places!

Please consider supporting the show financially on our Atari Bytes Patreon page. You can do that here. Thanks. 

Nov 18, 2018

Take a deep breath and bend over to touch your toes! Your tic-tac-toes, that is. And 1 and 2 and 1 and 2...

This week on episode 147, we're playing an early Atari effort from 1978: 3D TIC-TAC-TOE. Was making tic-tac-toe three dimensional an innovative twist on a perennial diner placement favorite or was it a distracting, pancake-themed riddle over nothing more worthy than a gravy stain on that placemat?

Thanks to Mike Mann for the Mad Mike Hughes Theme.

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Reformat" and "Pinball Spring". 

Atari Bytes show notes and what not.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show!

You can support the show financially on the Atari Bytes Patreon page here. Thanks. 

Here's one of many places you can pick up my novel IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME - a sort of Santa Claus story for adults. Don't like this retailer? Pick your own! You can order it pretty much anywhere! Thanks in advance!

Nov 11, 2018

Despite the waves of political unrest, some 8 million tourists visit Egypt every year to take in such amazing sites as the Great Sphinx. Therefore, when the listener stats come in for episode 146 of the show, iMagic's RIDDLE OF SPHINX, we're expecting similar numbers. That's reasonable, right?

*Ahem*

Anyway, as the son of the Prince of Egypt, you are the ultimate tourist striving to get in line ahead of death god Anubis at the funnel cake stand. Or something.

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Reformat", "Take a Chance" and "Pinball Spring". 

Atari Bytes show notes and oh, so much more.

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - Hey! That's my other show. 

Thanks to Mike Mann for his "Mad Mike Hughes Theme".

Please consider supporting the production costs for Atari Bytes by joining the Patreon. You can do that here. Thanks in advance!

Here is one of the places you can pick up IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, my holiday Santa Claus story for adults. 

Nov 4, 2018

This week on episode 145 of ATARI BYTES, we dive deep into the valley of the poisonous mountain cacti (plural for cactus) that is the intersection of philosophy and science. For example:

If the universe encompasses everything we know, but the universe is also expanding, WHAT is it expanding into?

Mallory said he climbed Mt. Everest simply because it is there. What the hell does that mean?

That second wondering is prompted by this week's mountain climbing game SPIKE'S PEAK, Xonox, 1983. It was hard getting hold of this one. A cadre of strong men put all their effort into turning the double ender cartridge we played "Ghost Manor" on last week around so that we could play SPIKE'S PEAK. We're exhausted. You're welcome. 

Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Take a Chance", "Pinball Spring", and "Reformat".

Thanks to Mike Mann for our "Mad Mike Hughes" update theme.

Atari Bytes show notes, episodes, social media, puppies*

*No actual puppies. 

It's a Podcast, Charlie Brown - My other show is chock full of Chuck Brown, Snoopy, and cartoonist Charles Schulz himself

The Atari Bytes Patreon page is here. If you can donate to the show, we thank you in advance. 

 

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